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of climate possessed by this county, vegetable life is from a
week to ten days earlier in Annapolis and the southern parts
of this county than it is immediately on the suburbs north of
Baltimore.
The farms as a general thing are not large, varying from
about three hundred to six or eight hundred acres; very few
are as much as fine thousand acres in extent, and many are
below three hundred acres. The face of the country, water,
streams, &c., readily admit of much smaller divisions being
profitably made than at present exists.
The price of lands vary very much, depending on their
improvements, locality and variety of soil.
The light, sandy soils can be purchased at from five to thirty
dollars; the white oak soils from ten to sixty dollars, the red
sandy soil from fifteen to seventy-five dollars, and the South
and West river sands at from sixty to one hundred and
twenty-five dollars per acre; that is, where sales are desired
to be made. Much of this land is not for sale, the descend-
ants of the first settlers preferring to remain in their old
homes, looking for better times on the return of government
founded in that justice, equity, civil and religious toleration
which distinguished the actions of their forefathers and
well knowing that no other place can afford them equal ad-
vantages to the region now occupied by them. The tone of
society is good, the people being kind, courteous and hospi-
table to each other and to strangers. Honest, industrious
persons from any portion of the Union will meet with a
reception fully equal to their merits, and will at once
occupy a social position as high as they deserve.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.
This county, with Anne Arundel, constitutes the northern
part of the western section of the tide water division of
Maryland. It is bounded on the north by Montgomery
county, on the south by Charles county, on the west by the
Potomac river and the District of Columbia, and on the east
by the Patuxent river, when separates it from Anne Arun-
del county. It has an average breadth of about twenty-two
miles, and its length is about thirty miles, and it contains
about three hundred and fifteen thousand acres. This county
has four natural divisions as to soil and topographical pecu-
liarities.
First. That lying on the Baltimore and Washington rail-
road, comprising the northern, or rather northwestern part
ot the county. This partakes of the general character of
the lands already described as existing on the B. and W.
Railroad.in Anne Arundel county, with more of a reddish
. clay loam, with some patches of loose, gravelly soil. As the
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